'Gilad Atzmon & the OHE Songs Of The Metropolis' is produced by Tali Atzmon.

Gilad Atzmon & Orient House Ensemble

(SACRAMENTO / LONDON) - Gilad Atzmon's sax sings beautifully in the new film produced by Tali Atzmon, 'Gilad Atzmon & the OHE Songs Of The Metropolis'.

Beautifully and thoughtfully executed, the program is a wonderful introduction for less familiar listeners and a serious delight for those of us already addicted to the music of this man who has made such a difference in the world not only as a musician, but as an activist, reporter and author. Originally from Israel, Gilad is a fierce supporter of Palestinian human rights and a vocal political opponent of Israeli policy.

He wages his campaign for people the same way he and the group deliver their live performances; in a way that could only be considered spectacular, delightful, and full of personality, character, and life.

Gilad's interview segments are interspersed throughout the vi

deo and he talks about the music, the ideas, the politics and the images.

"I express there, some very strong criticism of multi culturalism and spiritual globalisation," Gilad said. "We are always listening to the same music, drinking the same coffee, reading the same books."

He expresses critical thoughts about the western population spending far too much time and money supporting Starbucks while failing to cons

ider what is happening to indigenous culture. People tend to live within their comfort zones, enjoying their place in the rat race where everything makes sense on a superficial level. The weak, corporate controlled mainstream media is the final ingredient. Unlike the western world of even twenty years ago, there now exists a population programmed to ignore the suffering of other human beings. Thoughtful souls like Gilad Atzmon are trying to explain, musically in this case, how we are all different for myriad reasons and never will be in lock step with one another.

"Rather than delaying an obvious multicultural attempt to flatten everything and to present an i

mage of manifold or most duplicity, the beauty of it comes out when the African flute really doesn't agree with the hip-hop drums, and this is the instant when my understanding of beauty comes into play. This is where I want to start, to start merging those things that don't agree with each other, to let them not agree. With the Orientals, we have been struggling forward for more than a decade, more than a decade, playing all this music. We have managed to convince a lot of people, even ourselves... that we can do it. But when you listen to a real Iraqi Oud player or a beautiful Palestinian singer, you realize that we will never be able to achieve it," Gilad said.

Gilad Atzmon's life is an amazing story. His book 'The Wandering Who? has brought intense criticism and rave reviews. Gilad makes people open their minds to facts they had not previously considered, or chosen to ignore. His political revelations do not sit kindly with the proponents of war crimes against the Palestinians, men like Alan M. Dershowitz, who have gone to great lengths to ridicule Gilad's book and replace fair reactions with accusations of antisemitism that are embarrassing and false.

This video by Tali Atzmon shows the real man who has been the subject of so much criticism over his human rights stance regarding Palestine. He explains the connection with 'Songs Of The Metropolis', saying, "On the face of it this album is certainly not a political statement. But, thinking about it deeply, it is probably the most profound political criticism I have produced."

Gilad is a former member of 'Ian Durry & the Blockheads', a new wave band that gained worldwide fame for the song of a generation, 'Sex and Drugs and Rock and Roll' and also 'Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick' which we loved in LA and all over the world back in the late 70's and early 80's. Gilad has performed with musical greats such as Robbie Williams, Sinead O'Connor and Paul McCartney.

A Salem-News.com writer since early 2010, Gilad's words, however controversial, are a guiding light for many who seek that real first-hand perspective into Israeli culture. His voice is much needed in this world where truth is so often sideswiped by political and pseudo-religious ambition.

Also by Tim King from Dec-09-2010: Gilad Atzmon: 'I Have a Reputation for Being a Suicidal Activist'